New Canon lenses, EOS

Canon today unveiled the 8.2 megapixel EOS 30D Digital SLR camera along with two new lenses for photo pros and enthusiasts, as well as the PowerShot S3 IS digital camera with a 12X IS zoom lens. The EOS 30D includes Canon's proprietary 8.2-megapixel APS-C size CMOS sensor, powerful DIGIC II Imaging processor, fast five fps shooting capability and field-tested tough construction. It can be purchased at a body-only price of $1,400 or as a kit with an EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 II zoom lens for about $1,500. The PowerShot S3 IS will be available in May for an estimated price of $500.

PowerShot S3 IS
imagepop1The camera features Canon's newly designed six-megapixel image sensor that together with Canon's proprietary DIGIC II image processor dramatically reduces "noise" for better image quality and achieves ISO equivalent speed ratings ranging from 80 to 800. This increased sensitivity allows the use of faster shutter speeds, thereby reducing the effects of camera shake and subject blur during hand-held photography in low light.

This Image Stabilizer provides up to three stops of camera shake correction in shutter speed equivalent. It is essential when engaging the camera's retractable 12x optical zoom lens because the extension of a long lens magnifies camera shake in direct proportion with the amount of lens magnification employed.

The camera's 12x zoom lens has an equivalent film focal length of 36-432mm (f/2.7 at wide angle and f/3.5 at telephoto). The optical zoom can be augmented by the camera's 4x digital zoom raising the maximum (35mm equivalent) focal length to that of a 1728mm lens. This UD lens features a high-speed silent zoom function powered by a micro motor USM drive, and for extreme close-ups, the camera's macro and super macro mode permit shooting a subject as close as 0-inches from the end of the lens barrel.

Canon's PowerShot S3 includes a movie recording function in high-quality VGA (640 x 480 pixels) at 30fps, which can be increased to 60fps in QVGA (420 X 240) movie mode. MovieSnap enables the user to capture high-resolution six megapixel still images while recording movies.

The camera features a Sports Mode that allows users to select high shutter speeds and the camera automatically selects the appropriate aperture for capturing action shots. The camera also includes a new widescreen 16:9 ratio resolution setting that facilitates creating panoramic-style prints.

Additionally, the new model supports 23 languages (now including Thai and Arabic) and has an improved direct printing function.

EOS 30D digital SLR

imagepop2The camera's burst rate has increased from 23 to 30 consecutive frames in JPEG L/F mode and from 6 to 11 consecutive frames in RAW mode. In those situations where a slower rate of continuous shooting will suffice, the EOS 30D SLR offers a three fps option that extends the burst capability to 37 shots in JPEG L/F mode.

While the EOS 30D SLR uses the same 35-zone metering sensor as its predecessor, Canon has added a spot metering capability that covers approximately 3.5 percent of the viewfinder area at the center. There are now four metering modes offered on the camera: Evaluative (set automatically in the Basic Zone modes), partial (approximately 9 percent), centerweighted average and spot. AF-point linked Evaluative metering, E-TTL II autoflash and 12 exposure control modes (11 AE modes plus manual) are unchanged from the EOS 20D SLR.

Also new is the camera's 2.5-inch LCD screen with 230,000-pixel resolution, wide 170-degree viewing angle, and LED-backlight design.

New Lenses: EF-S 17-55mm and EF 85mm

imagepop3The EF-S 17-55mm f/2.8 IS USM (pictured) has a large maximum aperture which, combined with higher shutter speeds can minimize subject motion blur. Shallow depth-of-field separation of a subject from its background is much easier to achieve and the f/2.8 maximum aperture allows a bright finder and precise focusing with f/2.8 compatible AF sensors. The internal stabilization has a sharpness benefit equivalent to a three-stop faster shutter speed, useful in low light situations. The lens has a 35mm equivalent focal length of 27-88mm and is compatible only with the EOS 30D, EOS 20D, EOS Digital Rebel XT and EOS Digital Rebel SLRs. The new EF-S 17-55mm f2.8/ IS USM will be available in May for an estimated selling price of $1,150.

The EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM is a revision of Canon's EF 85mm f/1.2L USM lens. The lens boasts improvements in AF speed as well lens coatings that minimize ghost and flare. In addition to its 1.8x faster auto focus, the lens offers high-speed manual focus, distance encoding for E-TTL II flash, and a circular aperture diaphragm that improves the appearance of background areas. The EF 85mm f/1.2L II USM will be available in March for an estimated selling price of $2,100.

by MacNN Staff